By Ben Rodgers
Editor
SUAMICO – Howard-Suamico school board members reranked their top areas of emphasis for the graduate profile at the Monday, June 10 meeting.
At its last meeting, the board looked at the seven characteristics and traits it wants graduates of the district to possess in the future, and ranked them in order of priority.
Previously, the board outlined the traits, defined them and a pilot assessment was launched to gauge the traits at an elementary school this year.
The previous ranking was, from first to last, communicator, collaborator, responsible, self-starter- critical thinker, adaptable and solutionist.
The order is required to allow district administration and staff to create a learning continuum that contains programs, curriculum and assessments, said Damian LaCroix, superintendent.
“A lot of heavy lifting, a lot of work is underway to create a learning continuum in support of this,” LaCroix said.
The board did have some concerns with the original order and wanted to see critical thinker higher on the list than fifth.
The board discussed survey results from more than a year ago, when stakeholders were asked to rank and order traits similar to this for one of the district’s ends policies.
“All of the stakeholders that voted to rank and order our ends put critical thinking first,” said Teresa Ford, board president. “Almost of all them put communication second, but I’m having a hard time thinking critical thinking belongs in fifth place right now.”
Trustee Vanessa Moran said communication skills need to be a top priority due to the effect the changing role of technology has on today’s youth.
“Communicator came across as the first one because of where we are as a society, being so attached to these,” she said holding up her cell phone. “If you’ve been in a school, around a school or around young folks, I think you’ll see a shift happening that has a lot of people concerned.”
The board revoted and the new order of the skills is, from first to last, critical thinker, communicator, collaborator, responsible, self starter and adaptable (tie) and solutionist.
With the new order, district staff will work on the learning continuum. The goal remains to have a district-wide assessment for all students in five years or less.
In other news, the board reviewed survey data from staff on a survey conducted by School Perceptions.
This is the second year the district has done the survey, so it now can compare data longitudinally as well as against other similar districts in the state who completed the survey.
Brian Nicol, director of communications, said nearly 200 districts in Wisconsin use this survey platform, and comparison schools were selected based on enrollment, free and reduced lunch, ethnicity and geography.
“I’m excited about longitudinal data,” Nicol said. “I’m excited to keep doing this and implement it with our strategic plan.”
Areas where the survey showed positive growth compared to other districts and last year’s results were compensation and benefits and work environment.
“Our district has improved,” Nicol said. “Last year 82 percent said yes, this year 88 percent said yes. Last year we passed a referendum question and this year we implemented the fruits of that passing.”
Staff will now hold a retreat this month to dig deeper into the survey results.
Nicol presented 46 slides and from there principals will develop school improvement plans in July and August.
Finally, former student representative to the board, Abbi Bender, was honored at the June 10 meeting, after having completed her year working on the board as a non-voting member.
“I sincerely thank all of you guys for allowing me to be here for the past year,” Bender said. “It’s been one of the most important experiences of my senior year and it has been so impactful in my life.”
Sahra Ahmed was welcomed as the new student representative to the board.